Niagara River Remedial Action Plan Stage 2 Update Report

2.2.7 Outreach and

2.2.7 Outreach and Education 1995 Recommendations: #26: Public education programs continue and new ones be developed as required. #27: Professional education programs continue and new ones be developed as required. Status of progress: Following release of the Stage 2 (1995) report to the community, and to commemorate the RAP committees’ efforts to restore Niagara’s ecosystem for present and future generations, a permanent RAP plaque was unveiled in June 1997. This plaque is located beside the NiagaraRiver at a location south of Niagara Falls near Ussher’s Creek. The text on the plaque is included on the last page of the Stage 2 Update. Figure 12: Stage 2 plaque on the NiagaraRiver For a further status of progress for these recommendations – see Appendix 10 I) Implementation activity: Produce an annual persistent toxic load progress report summarizing data provided by RAP partners. The NiagaraRiver Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP) produces an annual progress report. J) Implementation activity: Co-ordinate and integrate public education and communication efforts with the NiagaraRiver Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP). Information on the NRTMP is provided in Appendix 5. A public meeting was held in October 2007 at Grand Island, New York, to provide an update on the NRTMP and the Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan. The 2007 NRTMP progress report was released in January 2008. 77 77 NiagaraRiver Toxics Management Plan. October 2007. Progress Report and Work Plan. 36

Niagara river remedial action plan stage 2 update Educational campaigns: The NPCA’s Outreach Program is ongoing and has been developed to promote the following: }} wetland/riparian and forest cover habitat restoration and/or establishment; }} environmentally friendly roadside ditch maintenance practices; and } } targeted educational programs on persistent toxin issues. Presentations have been made to schools and community groups throughout the watershed on a variety of topics including water conservation, wetlands, environmental restoration and water quality. Opportunities to encourage citizens to become engaged in environmental activities are also promoted. The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) partnered with the NPCA to promote the improvement of habitat features along the NiagaraRiver corridor. The strategy involved public information sessions and door-todoor contact with residents along the NiagaraRiver Parkway to present NPC’s expansion of parkland restoration projects under the NiagaraRiver Riparian Habitat Management Plan & Policy project. The Niagara Region and the NPCA are partners in the very successful Niagara Children’s Water Festival, an annual 4-day event that brings together educators, government, industry and community representatives. The festival incorporates five basic themes: Water Conservation, Water Attitude, Water Technology, Water Protection and Water Science. See www.npca.ca for further information. Figure 13: Children learning at the Niagara Children’s Water Festival NiagaraRiver Repository: A collection of reports and documents about pollution in the NiagaraRiver and the NiagaraRiver RAP was established at the Niagara Falls (Ontario) Public Library in 1991. The NiagaraRiver Repository is available to the public as reference material. 37